Birth → School → Job → Retire → Death

Given the unpredictability of life, we’re lucky if we even manage to follow that path.

Because it could be like this:

Birth → Death

Birth → School → Death

Birth → School → Job → Death

We could die anytime. But we never think about it.

Because if we do, we’ll do things differently. And that is not something society wants.

Society wants us to fall in line and follow the system.

Conditioning

At an early age, our families and society trained us to act and think in a certain way. If we do it their way, we get a reward.

Conditioning was born.

First at home, then at school, and then in our community (relatives, friends, neighbors, and churchmates).

After graduating from school, things became pretty normal (at least from our perspectives).

And so, we stop questioning.

And as we start working to earn money and take more responsibilities — finally experiencing what our parents have been through — the conditioning grows into a “this-is-how-it-should-be-and-if-you’re-not-doing-it-you’ll-suffer” belief.

That belief disguises itself as being practical or responsible.

Deep inside, though, we know something’s not right. We know there’s more to life than following the system.

Now we’re conflicted. We become confused — others depressed, lost. We don’t know what’s really going on.

They tell us to do this and do that. We follow without hesitation. Because what choice do we have?

At first, we believe there’s no other choice. Just follow. Fall in line.

Until one day — for some weird, unknown reason — we realize we’re just making excuses.

Time to wake up.

How can we stop the conditioning?

On a societal level, no. We can’t. As long as society exists, conditioning persists.

We live in this grand system. And everyone has a role to play. It is what it is.

You might think that as you grow old, you’ll be the exception. I wish that’s true. Because even after we retire, some people around us will keep amplifying the conditioning.

Birth → (Conditioning) → School → (Conditioning) → Job → (Conditioning) → Retire → (Conditioning) → Death

Of course, it’s always up to us if we follow others. After all, we’re already old. But that’s not always the case either. If you’ve met a retired old person, you know what I mean.

On a personal level, yes. We can break free from it. (And I know a lot of people who did.)

But everyone is different. There are no “how tos” or “tips” that will work for everybody.

You can try them (there’s a shitload of these on the Internet). But there’s no guarantee. Again, everyone is different.

And as much as I’ve wanted to provide how-tos or tips, that would only clutter your mind.

So, no. 🙂

Instead, let’s keep it simple. Let’s start with a question:

“Who were we before the conditioning?”

The labels, the stories, the lies, the made-up social obligations, the imagined fears, the promises, the worries, the ambitions, the external achievements, the beliefs, and all those material possessions…

Who were we before all these things?

Who were we before all these layers?

Who were we before we’re brainwashed?

But you can’t answer that yet, because you’re not here.

Where have you been?

Time to go home.